by Reggi Allder
While he moved the hay bales, Bobby helped her clean the tack room next the barn.
“We’re going to use this room for the craft shop,” she said. “Over there in the corner we can set up tables and your friends can have pie and apple juice.”
“I like apple juice. It’s my favorite.” Bobby set the broom he was using against the wall, coughed and wiped the dust off his jeans. “I like it better than orange juice.”
“Yeah, me too.” Amy laughed remembering the gift Mike gave her. “But they’re both good for you.”
She glanced around the room. “Now that the stuff is out and we’ve cleaned it, the room is bigger than I realized.”
“Was I a good helper?”
“You were great.” She hugged him. “We’ll have lots of room for tables and chairs so everyone can sit down and still have enough room for shelves to put the crafts on.”
“Can I play now?”
“Okay, but stay close to the barn where I can see you. I’ll be in here painting. And keep an eye out for snakes.”
“Gee, Mommy. I know about snakes.”
“I just worry.” She drew him into her arms and hugged him again. So small and delicate, she doubted strangers would guess he was nearly five years old. Please God, keep him safe.
He pulled out of her arms and ran into the yard. So grown up and that’s what she wanted. But soon he wouldn’t want her hugs, because he’d be too big for that kind of stuff.
With the broom, she yanked down the last cobweb. Then opened the can of paint left over from Bobby’s room. She could hear him playing in the yard. The sound of Johnny’s tractor buzzed in the background, the hum of a busy farm. The life she’d dreamed of was becoming a reality.
Three hours later, she stopped to take a break and get lunch ready. She glanced at Granny’s old wrist watch, one o’clock. “Late for lunch,” she mumbled. Bobby was still playing in the yard with his Hot Wheel cars.
“Time for lunch. Go wash up.”
She’d heated the beef and carrot stew she’d made earlier and tossed a salad. In the morning she’d baked two apple pies, one to eat and one for Johnny to take home. The kitchen still smelled of the baked apples. She took a gulp of air and then exhaled slowly. Nothing better than the aroma of baked pies.
Where was Wyatt right now? What was he doing? Was he thinking of her? She shook her head to clear it. He has a long line of women he could be thinking about. All prettier and with fewer problems than you. So stop.
After he left this morning, she’d promised not to mull over their situation, no a point in tormenting herself. It was crazy wishing for a relationship with a man who had more women in his life than anyone she’d ever met. No matter how much Bobby needed a man’s influence, it wasn’t fair to let him care too much for Wyatt, who didn’t want to be his father.
He was probably on his way back to the rodeo circuit and this time she wouldn’t follow his travels online. A grown woman shouldn’t waste time dreaming of a relationship that could never be.
There was enough to do taking care of Bobby and the farm, including the pumpkin patch and the apple orchard and the blog talking about farm life. The more she concentrated on getting that right, the better chance she had keeping the property.
A man like Wyatt only brought emotional upheaval in her life and she certainly didn’t need that. Decision made, she’d forget about any future with Wyatt. She grabbed a quick breath and relaxed her shoulders. She and Bobby would be just fine on their own.
“Honey, did you wash your hands?” she shouted from the kitchen doorway looking toward her son’s room.
With the table set for three, she went to find Johnny and tell him lunch was ready.
She got back from the meadow and entered the house in time to see her son open the front door. “Honey, where are you going?”
Bobby ran out of the house to the front porch.
It was then she heard a pick-up truck in the driveway.
CHAPTER 20
She glanced out the living room window just as the black Ford rolled to a stop.
“Hi Wyatt,” Bobby yelled.
“Hey big guy.”
Her heart thundered as she watched Wyatt jump out of the cab. Bobby ran up to him.
“Where’s your horsy?”
She couldn’t hear the answer because the sound of Johnny’s tractor drowned out their voices.
Bobby waved his hands in the air as he talked. Wyatt leaned down and then he kneeled on the ground near her son. Her son’s expression became serious. Wyatt leaned closer. There they were speaking man to man. Again she was reminded how much a man’s influence was needed.
Finally the noise from the tractor stopped and she heard Wyatt say, “I’ve got something for you.”
“For me?”
“Yeah.” He went to the cab of the truck. “Big guy, I got a new book for you. It’s about dogs, all kinds of breeds how they look and what they do.”
Amy saw the excitement in her son’s eyes as he clasped the new book to his chest.
“How’d you know I need a doggie?” He ran to the front door where she was standing. “Mommy, look what Wyatt gave me.”
“That’s wonderful. Did you say thank you?”
“Thank you,” he said and ran into the house.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to. It’d be my fault if he went around scaring half the town with his snake book.” He grinned.
Amy’s heart thundered. Damn Wyatt and his charming grin. She had just prepared herself for not seeing him again. And now here he was unsettling her and her son. Anger raced through her, but it quickly changed to joy when he smiled again.
“I didn’t think I’d see you—so soon, or ever.”
“Thought you and Johnny could use some help with the maze.”
“Guess we could.”
He moved toward her and she felt his strong presence, his manliness barley leashed. He said the right things to her, but there was an undercurrent radiating from him. An emotion she wanted to decode. She looked up. He was staring at her.
“Uh, we were about to have lunch. Why don’t you join us?”
Bobby ran out of the house still carrying the new book. He grabbed Wyatt with his free hand and pulled him toward the farmhouse.
She noted a look of reluctance in Wyatt’s expression. Finally he shrugged and walked toward the house.
At the kitchen table, Bobby’s eyes glistened with happiness as he talked.
When the old man entered the kitchen Wyatt said, “Hey, Johnny.”
“Cowboy.”
She watched the two men shake hands. Then the guys fell into easy conversation as she served the meal. Soon they had the paperwork for the maze out on the table and were discussing the best way to proceed to get the job done.
Her son watched them with rapt concentration.
How long would Wyatt stay? A day? A week? Not long enough for a five year old. That was for sure. He’d be back on the rodeo circuit, making nice with his many women friends, and grinning for the cameras. She and Bobby would be left alone again.
I won’t let Bobby fall in love with Wyatt—like I have. Her son had already been abandoned by his father. Could he deal with a loss of a second man in his life? Would he come away thinking he’d done something wrong or worse yet, think he wasn’t loveable? A small hiss escaped her lips.
“Amy, did you say something,” Wyatt asked.
“No—more pie anyone?”
“I’m good.” Johnny shook his head. “Let’s get back to work. Now that you’re here, we’ll make good time.”
“I’m right behind you.”
Johnny walked out of the room. The screen door shut tight behind him.
Bobby ran from the kitchen his new book held close. Amy started to clear the table.
Wyatt took a dish from her hand. “You smell good, all beef stew and apple pie.” He reached out and drew her to him. With his rough hand, he gently pushed her hair back from her face an
d bent down, his mouth hovering near hers. He searched her face as if wanting to find affirmation of her desire before he kissed her.
About to speak, her lips parted and he kissed her. A playful contact as his tongue danced along her mouth then plunged deeper to strengthen their touch.
The sway of her body moved with his as he lengthened the kiss and his hand moved to her breast. A tingling sensation sent a wave of yearning racing through her. Without conscious thought, she rolled her hips to meet his and pressed against him. “Wyatt,” she whispered.
“I want you Amy,” he groaned. “Need you, but not here, not now.”
He set her free and she stumbled back from him.
She flushed and the heat burned her cheeks.
“I know we can’t, but I couldn’t leave the kitchen without a kiss from you. I’ve got to help Johnny. But later today, after he’s leaves, I have something to tell you.”
Before she could respond, Wyatt was gone.
***
That evening Wyatt watched Amy come out of the farm house onto the front veranda. She’d changed from her work clothes and she now wore a sleeveless white cotton dress that hugged her pert breasts. The hem touched the top of her knees. She carried something in her hand.
“A baby monitor,” she said as she set it on a small table next to Granny’s old rocking chair. “I can hear Bobby if he needs me.” She sat down in the chair and crossed her legs. “He wanted to sleep with the book you gave him. I had a hard time convincing him to take a stuffed animal instead.”
Wyatt chuckled at the image.
“I can’t believe how much you and Johnny did in one day. The maze is wonderful. I’m really getting excited. I just hope people will come to the pumpkin patch.” She sat back and rocked slowly in the antique rocker.
“They’ll come.” He leaned against the railing.
“How can you be so sure? I’ve been tweeting about it for days. I made Facebook page. Vanna gave me photos of kids in costumes and I’ve put them up with photos of the pumpkin patch. I’ve even included a photo of Bobby’s pumpkin. The one he’s growing for the “biggest” pumpkin contest and I’m still worried no one will show up.” She sighed. “I’m rambling. You know I do that sometimes.”
“It’s okay.” He sat in the chair next to her.
In the light of the full moon, her hair shimmered, and just a touch of a smile turned up the corners of her mouth.
“It’s so beautiful here,” she continued.
He knew she had no idea of her beauty.
“I can’t explain how content I feel living here on the farm. Bobby’s happy too.”
The words hit him like a fist to the gut. Granny had been so sure Amy hated the place and needed to sell. As the executor if he forced the sale he’d be hurting Amy. Or would he be keeping the farm with all its inherent problems from putting her financial security at risk? He groaned.
“Are you all right?” She stopped rocking and sat up in the chair.
“Yeah.”
“Wyatt, would you like a beer? Or I could make some ice tea or decaf if you’re thirsty.”
“I’m good.” He tried to relaxed and let the night air cool him. He had something to say to her and the longer he waited the harder it got.
An owl hooted as a slight breeze rustled the trees near the house.
With reluctance he said, “Bobby told me something today. I think you should know. Now don’t get too worried.”
CHAPTER 21
Amy gasped. “What’s wrong with Bobby?”
“He told me something “man to man” and I thought you should be aware of it.”
“Tell me.”
“He’s having a problem at school.”
“Is this what you meant this afternoon when you said you wanted to talk to me?”
“Yeah.” He could see the disappointment in her face.
“I thought it was about—I mean—never mind.”
Had she expected a commitment from him?
She cleared her throat. “What’s wrong at school? Bobby said everything was fine when I asked. He was making friends.”
“He is, but some of the older kids are teasing him. They make fun of him because he eats “funny” food. They offered him cookies and he wouldn’t eat them. That pissed the kids off. So yesterday they grabbed his lunch, called it garbage, threw it in the trash, and laughed at him.”
“That’s not funny. Why didn’t he tell me?”
“He didn’t want you to get upset. Like you are now.
“I—”
“He’s trying to be a big kid.”
“Did he tell his teacher?”
“No way. The kids said if he told, they’d throw him in the trash along with his food.”
“Oh God, I’m stunned. I know kids tease. I remember being called four eyes because I wear glasses. That hurt my feeling, but I was never threatened physically.
“You’re a girl.”
She threw an odd look at him, stood up, walked to the porch railing, and held on to it. “With Celiac, I’ve been so careful about his food, and so proud he knows what not to eat. This is serious. It could have terrible repercussions if he goes off the diet. I have to tell the school administration.”
“Bobby wants to handle it.”
“Yesterday he came home crying because his stomach hurt. Now I understand why. This can’t go on. I have to talk to the school.”
“He came up with an idea and I promised I’d tell you.”
She spun around to face Wyatt. “He can’t do this without me. You need to understand that he’s small and frail for his age and will never be tall or strong like you.”
“Amy, you’ve got to stop thinking of him as a sickly kid. He’s okay. You can’t follow him around his whole life. Let him take a few chances and make a mistake or two. That’s what makes a man regardless of how tall he grows.”
“Wyatt, you don’t understand.”
“It’s all right to be small in stature as long as he gains self-confidence. Maybe you don’t see it, but your kid has the heart of a lion. Let him try. You can always step in later if he can’t do it. Don’t take this opportunity away from him.”
“Me? I’m not taking anything away from him. I’m not the one making his life miserable at school.” Her voice rose. “Since he was born, I’ve done everything I could to protect him. Bobby was a sickly baby. I watched him struggle to survive. You didn’t hear him cry all night when nothing worked to sooth him. What do you know? You weren’t there the night he almost died. You can’t know how terrifying that was. It’s so easy for you to preach.”
Tears ran down her contorted face. Anger flashed in her eyes.
“Amy…”
“Don’t.” She glared at him.
He wanted to hug her, but a gut feeling told him it would only make things worse. “Of course I can’t know the pain a mother goes through,” he said quietly. “I do know what it feels like to be a boy without a dad to show him the way, a little guy who instinctively wants to be a man. It’s a struggle to make the right choices without a dad’s example.”
He stepped closer and caressed her cheek. “Let Bobby try. Give him some slack to fight his own battles. He’ll survive. And he’ll love you for the opportunity to start becoming the man he wants to be.”
“He’s so little,” she whispered.
He hugged her. “ I know, but trust me. He’ll be all the stronger for this.”
In his arms, her body trembling against him, she sobbed. “I just want to do the right thing.”
“Amy, it’s going to be okay. Sit down and I’ll tell you an idea Bobby and I came up with to fix this.”
She wiped her eyes and returned to the rocking chair.
“I don’t think the kids who took Bobby’s lunch are bad kids.” He watched her frown, unconvinced. “They felt insulted because he wouldn’t eat their mom’s cookies.”
“But they threatened him.”
“I’ll give you the kids overreacted and they scared him.
Still, when it comes right down to it, all they really did was talk.” He smiled thinking of her son speaking to him “man to man” this afternoon.
“Amy, you’ve got a bright kid. He’s proud of his food and thinks you’re a good cook. He got the idea to share it with the kids at school so they’d see how great it tastes.”
He paused to let her absorb the suggestion.
Anyway, I thought why not bring food for the whole school? Then everyone would know about gluten free and try some of it. Of course you’d have to prepare it. Say the rice casserole you made the day we went to the river for a picnic.”
“Bobby was so happy that day.” She hesitated. “Do you really think taking food to school would help?”
“Yeah. What boy or man for that matter can resist good food?” He chuckled. “And you’re an excellent cook. The kids would like it. Of course some organic apple sauce would be great too.”
“I could do that.”
He watched her body relax as she leaned back in the rocker and smiled at him.
“Vanna is friends with Bobby’s teacher. Maybe she could talk his teacher and see what she thinks of the idea,” Amy said. “That way, Bobby would be fixing this without being a “mama’s boy.”
“A good thought.”
“Wyatt, I think this might work.”
In the moonlight he could see her frown had disappeared.
“I’m so grateful for your help.”
A soft breeze stirred the night air on the veranda and she crossed her arms around her body.
“Amy, you’re cold.”
“I’m fine.”
“You should get some sleep. Bobby will probably be up early.”
“Yeah. He’s an early riser. Where are you staying tonight?”
“I thought I’d use the cottage. If you don’t mind.”
“That’s okay. Uh—can I join you?”
For a second he thought he hadn’t heard her right. “What did you say?”
“Let me come to the cottage with you. Wyatt, don’t you want me?”
Even in the dim light he could see her eyes widen and her lips pout.
“You know I do. But I can’t offer you forever.”